Review of Holy Man (1998) by Neil B — 23 Mar 2011

It's harmless fun, but it underutilizes Murphy, who's largely reduced to doing virtuoso variations on his iconic smile. It may not be earthshaking, but this calmly competent feel-good movie shows that a little sincerity can go a long way. A pleasant piece of commercial filmmaking, but as a satirical comedy, it's devoid of laughs and insight. Complex issues of ambition and consumerism taken to televangelic levels aren't truly addressed or resolved but simply tied up in a box with the message that love conquers all. Goldblum and Murphy outdo each other in their odd roles, each minimizing his tendency toward shtick and giving a convincing dramatic performance.

VERDICT: "Rental" - (Negative to Mixed reaction). These films are only worth renting because of certain good things that are worth seeing, but are not worth paying at a theatre to see due to bad things that overcome anything good.